The effects of using computer assisted instruction incorporating data from motion analysis video in order to improve the ability of physical therapy students to perform observational gait analysis.

In clinical practice, physical therapy students (PTS) require not only ADL knowledge but also the ability to assess a patient's problems by observing his or her motion. This is an important problem solving skill and is strongly required by the students. But this ability has not been fully developed in traditional education. The study of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) as new teaching material has become increasingly valued in practical curriculum. This study reports the findings of a study that hypothesized the educational benefits of developing new teaching materials incorporating self-directed learning accessible via World Wide Web for improving observational gait analysis. These methods could demonstrate more beneficial educational effects by incorporating not only static models, but also dynamic models developed using the new technology of motion analysis into motion data, along with interactive checking systems. 85 PTS volunteered to participate in this study. The effects showed a significant improvement score between the CAI and control groups. All results of scores and time between before and after the CAI learning were statistically significantly effectiveness. And the final scores strongly associated with the number of login in CAI group.